49ers waive defensive back Jimmy Williams

After entering the league as a promising cornerback prospect, Jimmy Williams signed with the 49ers just hoping to resurrect his career.

No such luck. Williams didn’t even last until training camp.

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The 49ers waived the former second-round pick of the Falcons on Monday, the first day of organized team activities in Santa Clara.

The move might also open the door a little wider for the return of Mark Roman. Last season’s starting free safety has been granted to seek a trade but remains on the 49ers roster.

“We’ve talked to Mark and let him know he’s important to what we’re trying to do,’’ Singletary said. “There was never a time that we said, ‘We don’t want Mark. He doesn’t matter to us.’ We want him and we’re very interested in keeping him. And, that’s not something that’s a secret to him.”

Roman, 32, had off-season procedure to remove bone spurs and still has a pin in his ankle, Singletary said.

For now, releasing Williams means a chance for second-year defensive back Reggie Smith to press for more playing time. Asked if the transaction meant Smith would stick at safety, Singletary replied: “It means that’s a strong possibility.”

Williams, 25, played for the Atlanta Falcons from 2006-07, including seven starts, but was not in the NFL last season.

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The 49ers first session of the four-day OTAs did not go well. Just 43 minutes into practice, Singletary stopped the action, gathered the team around him and blistered them for their lack of focus.
When practice ended about an hour later, Singletary lit into the group again with a long – and loud – tongue-lashing.

What went wrong?

“Everything. Everything. I don’t even want to get started because I don’t have that much time,’’ Singletary told reporters.

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He added: “The things that we have in mind, this is not it. … We lost a day today.”

Singletary reiterated that there is no timetable for his decision on a quarterback. “Hopefully, sooner than later,’’ he said.

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Recently acquired right tackle Marvel Smith made his debut in practice and participated in individual drills. Smith is recovering from back surgery

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LSU safety Curtis Taylor, the 49ers’ seventh-round pick, signed a four-year contract, making him the third member of the draft class to sign. Linebacker Scott McKillop and defensive end Ricky Jean-Francios signed last week.

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The 49ers are one of nine NFL teams to opt out of the league-run pension plans for non-player employees. 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, who serves as the president of the NFL Coaches Association Executive Committee, reacted to the news by releasing a statement on behalf of the committee that “respectfully urges the NFL owners to address our pension concerns so that coaches can continue to do their jobs without anxiety toward the future.”

On Monday, Singletary was asked whether the 49ers’ pension situation might make it harder for the team to put together a staff in certain years. Singletary acknowledged that there are differences of opinion on his staff and added: “We do have a pension in place, it’s just a little bit different than what we had before. So, we’ll just go forward with that.”